Seaweek - Rotoroa Island Takahe Recovery Talk

We are celebrating 70 years since takahē rediscovery!

That’s why we would like to invite you to join us for a special talk (and walk) to celebrate this huge milestone on Saturday, March 9. Our ecologist Jo Ritchie will give an introduction and discussion into one of our most unique and endangered endemic species.

With only 376 takahē in existence, they are threatened and vulnerable. However, since they were rediscovered in 1948 after they were thought to be extinct, huge efforts by DoC’s Takahe Recovery Programme has gone into studying them, and the threats to their survival.

This has included manipulating wild nests and eggs, artificially incubating eggs, captive breeding, and predator control. All to make sure the takahē is never again threatened with extinction.

We’ll share both the latest on the recovery programme across NZ and the practical side of Rotoroa Island’s role in protecting this special species.

Special mention will be given to our resident takahē on Rotoroa island, and the latter part of this talk will involve tracking some individuals using telemetry in order for visitors to (hopefully) get a rare opportunity to view these birds ‘up close and personal’. If you are lucky you may spot the newest and cutest member of our resident family feeding with the adults.

Saturday 9 March 2019, 3pm at Rotoroa Island. Ferry leaves 8.45am and returns 5.15pm.

(Make sure you choose this date when buying ferry tickets).

Cost: Talk is free, usual ferry prices apply.
Bookings: Book your ferry ticket on Fullers360 website. No booking required for the talk.